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(No Model.)

H. W. JOHNS. STEAM PAGKING.

Patented May'Z,18 8Z.

N. PETERS, Phcw-Lilhogmphur. Wnhinglou. n.c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY YV. JOHNS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STEAM-PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,167, dated May 2, 1882.

Application filed February 28, 1882. (No model.)

.bestus in the form ofa rope has fulfilled the object sought with considerable success. Its use, however, has been attended with the objection that in order to prevent the strands composing the rope from being rubbed away or disintegrated by handling it has been necessary to confine them with acloth covering or woolen netting. This feature of covering renders the structure expensive and laborious to produce,

and the covering does not serve any purpose as a packing, but, on the contrary, being of a comparatively inflammable nature, soon becomes charred by the heat of the boxin which it may be used. Asbestos has also been braided; but this is not only expensive, but fails of the object attained by my invention, because the strands cannot be separated when desirable.

The object of my invention is provide a rope composed of asbestos which shall be free from the objections named and highly desirable as a steam-packing; and with these ends in view my invention consists of a steam-packin g composed of a series of strands ot'asbestus, twisted or layed into the form of a rope, and having the ordinarily projecting fibers laid flat in the direction of the length of the rope, and also having the interstices between the several strands of which the rope is composed illustrates a similar section of a rope embodying my invention; and Fig. 3, a plan view of the-same, to more fully illustrate the tying or bridging of the interstices.

At Fig. 1 it will be observed that short spurs or fibers a project from the rope, and that the strands b, composing the rope, are, when twist ed into form, separated by V-sha-ped or similar interstices, while by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the interstices are built up or filled to about level with the outside surface of the rope, as illustrated by the blackened spaces marked 0.

At Fig. 3 I intend by the short straight lines marked d to illustrate how the ordinary spurs or fibers shown at a, Fig. 1, are laid across or bridge the helical spaces marked by the curved lines 0. The fine lines branching off from the lines (I are intended to represent the felting or T locking which takes place, as hereinafter referred to, after the interstices have been filled with the cement or sizing.

The process of manufacture which I have adopted as best calculated to accomplish the ends sought is first to form a rope of the desired size and of any suitable number of strands of asbestus fiber in any well-known manner, but preferably by the use of double strands twisted together around a strong central twisted strand, which may be of hemp or other material, though I prefer asbestos. This enables me to retain the spring of the twist, which I find can be accomplished in no other manner so well as when using asbestos. It is then laid in such way that the exposed or outside surface of the several strands shall be slightly flattened to approach in their crosssection curvature as near as possible to a circle surrounding the whole number, andl in this way to a considerable degree lessen the proportions of the interstices which naturally occur between the lay of the strands. After the rope has been thus formed I then apply water or moisture in small quantities and in any suitable manner to the outside surface of the rope and subject the same to rapid longi tudinal manipulation. This manipulation removes small particles of asbestos, and the water serves as a "ehiel'e to depositthe asbestus, in the form of a paste or sizing, within the interstices of the rope in an even and smooth condition. Thispasteorsizing,beingcomposed of asbestus, will, according to the character of the asbestos, form a film or membraneo us coating of considerable strength when subjected to friction. The longer fibers orspurs, which are not removed and taken up by the water, are laid across or bridgedover the filledinterstices, and I have found that they are at the same time felted or matted together, as illustrated at Fig. 3. In manipulating the rope to accomplish these results I have found the human hand best adapted for the purpose; but of course I do not desire to confine myself in this particular, nor to the fact that I first apply the water or other moisture, as I may begin to manipulate the rope a little while before applying the moisture; nor do I wish to confine myself to the use of asbcstus and water alone as the agents for filling the interstices, as other ingredients may be used so long as they are not of a character to be objectionable when placed within a steam-joint. I have found that a successful paste or cement for the purpose may be made from asbestus flour, water, glue, paraffine, kerosene, or other oleaginous matter and ordinary flour, or any two or more of the ab0ve,a superior material being the two fiours combined with a little paraffine and a small quantity of kerosene. I prefer that asbestus should always form one element of the paste.

A packing when made according to my invention possesses one great advantage over any other that I am familiar with, except hemp packing, in that the strands of which it is composed may be readilyseparated, so as to form a packing for very small joints, or they may Q be combined to make a rope or packing of any packing consisting of strands of asbestus Y twisted or laid into the form of a rope, with the interstices between the strands filled or built up with a suitable cement or size, substantially as set forth.

2. The asbestus-ropepackingforsteam-joints, having the interstices filled or built up, as described, and tied or bridged over by the longitudinally laid and felted short fibers, as hereinbefore set forth.

3. The asbestusrope packing forsteamjoints, composed of a series of strands of asbestus, with a central core saturated with a solution of india-rubber, as hereinbefore set forth. 7

4. The process of closing and building up the interstices of asbestus rope, consisting in iongitudinal manipulation of the rope with sizing or water, substantially as hereinbefore specifically set forth.

5. The method of producing a hard smooth finish or polish on the surface of asbestus, consisting in the application of water or other suitable material, as described, and friction.

6. As a sizing for application to the surface of the asbestus, a compound consisting of asbestus and oleaginous or glutinous material with flour and water or other fluid, as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY 'W. JOHNS.

Witnesses:

Gno. S. 0UuTIs, JOHN W. SHUTE. 

